Educational Design and Technology

Technical Support

The Federal E-Rate
Program has provided reimbursement for telecommunication
and broadband access and services to school buildings since 1997. This program
can be used in conjunction with State Building Aid. The rate of discount
for reimbursement by the E-Rate Program varies from school to school based
on a needs index, calculated by using Free and Reduced Price Lunch (FRPL) program data. To address the needs of increasing Internet access and sufficient
bandwidth for computer-based testing (CBT), districts should carefully examine
and explore the E-Rate Discount Program Services in budget planning and
infrastructure development. It also important for schools to work with their
service providers to secure necessary security and sufficient bandwidth,
but avoid unnecessary costs associated with over-supply.

NYSED also recommends the following guidelines for adequate technical support
in schools and districts:

Have a technology integration specialist in each school that will administer
CBT, to facilitate the planning and implementation timetable and process,
and to provide technical and instructional support for technology-based
learning and testing in general.

If a school does not have a designated technology integration specialist,
seek technical assistance from the district technology office or a
regional support center:

For schools in the “Big Five” city school districts, the central
school district technology office tends to coordinate the planning
and implementation of the E-Rate Program. Individual school buildings
in need of assistance in assessing, planning, and implementing
technology readiness strategies can turn to their central technology
offices within their city school districts.

For schools and their district technology offices outside
of the “Big 5” that desire to increase their technology expertise
and/or capacity, consider seeking assistance from a regional
service provider (e.g., BOCES and/or Regional Information Centers,
or “RIC’s”) in assessing and addressing needs for technology
capacity and development.

Technical support from technology offices in school districts or regional
support centers should focus on both technology capacity development and
instructional support for technology-infused learning and assessment.